Genocide or holocaust education: Exploring different Australian approaches for muslim school children

Abstract

Holocaust education can play a role in countering the ongoing problem of prejudice and incitement to hate that can lead to racial tension and violence. This chapter examines the beliefs of Muslim school children towards Jews in Sydney, Australia. It then discusses efforts to use Holocaust education to combat racist beliefs and hate language, and an alternative approach that illustrates the common values in the Abrahamic faiths. The chapter analyses the advantages and disadvantages of using various school programmes to counter anti-Jewish feelings amongst Muslim children. It ends with a discussion of whether such programmes should be compulsory and whether the educational focus should be on the specific case of the Holocaust or take a broader approach through genocide studies.